mx5cartalk.com

Hopefully this is the right thread for my questions
A few things I notice on my MX5 in the past 2 weeks:

1. Noises (sounds like the belt) when I start the engine in the morning, eventually goes away after the car's warmed up
2. Clunk noises when I do a low speed sharp turning manouver (i.e. parking) - I read something about worn CV (Constant Velocity) joints
3. Sharp metal noise when I turned on the AC

My major-ish 140,000km service is coming up, might as well fix those things up

my mazda 323 had that clunk noise, yep i think it was a cv joint.

it also has a squeely belt noise which goes away once the car warms up. for the belt noise, have a look at the belt for the aircon , you can tighten it and loosen it using the bolt at the top of the bracket that holds the wheel on that the belt wraps around. hopefully you'll understand what i mean. loosen it a tiny bit and see if the noise goes away.

can't help with the other one tho.

The noise is most likely your belt my car was just doing this recently, I replaced the belt as it had some cracking.
Where is the clunking coming from? If it is from the front check your ball joints and suspension bushes. I have had worn bushes cause noises in the past. CV joint noise is more apparent on front wheel drive cars, they can make a racket.
I had a Commodore that made a metal noise when the AC was turned on it was caused by the clutch for the AC, not sure how the MX5 system works.

Hope this is some help

MX-5 = no CV joints.
Perhaps check swaybar end bushes.

Jules

There are CV joints in the rear, doubt they would make noise on turning though, so yeah check bushes and ball joints.

hmm..it does sound like CV joints. Happened to my parents car, but it seems the 5 doesn't have CV joints at the front. Check the driveshafts.

Andy Wana wrote:2. Clunk noises when I do a low speed sharp turning manouver (i.e. parking) - I read something about worn CV (Constant Velocity) joints

My car does the same thing! If you fix it let me know what it was won't you

Thanks for the suggestions and help guys.
Belt noise at engine startup has disappeared since I used that belt grip stuff that was suggested at another thread.

I suspect the clunk noise might be my shagged OE suspension bushes (it has done 138,000Ks)
Still no idea about the metal noise when I turn on the AC. Might get a second opinion from the mechanic when the major service is due.

Will report back on my findings on these 2 issues.